You may have heard of the Indian Parliament—an institution that plays an important role in democratic India. But what exactly is the Parliament? And what do its members do?
Put simply, the Indian Parliament is a bicameral legislature. This means it's divided into two chambers: the Lok Sabha, or House of the People; and the Rajya Sabha, or Council of States. Each house has a separate purpose and set of powers within India's government framework. Together, these houses form an important part of India's political system.
In this article, we’ll explore both chambers of Parliament, including their roles and functions in detail. We'll also look at who gets to sit in each house, how laws are passed and how democracy works in India. So let's get started.
The Two Houses of Parliament: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
India’s Parliament is composed of two houses: the Lok Sabha, or the lower house, and the Rajya Sabha, or the upper house. The Lok Sabha is the elected house of Congress while the Rajya Sabha is an appointed house and acts as a legislative check.
The primary role of Parliament is to pass laws and regulate public policy. In this capacity, it serves as a forum for debate on important national and international issues, hearing government statements and statements from members of opposition parties. It also has the power to question members of government departments about their actions.
In addition to its legislative powers, Parliament also plays a supervisory role in overseeing government activities. It can summon ministers to answer questions from members of the house, question them on their actions, refer important matters to committees for further investigation, and set up ad hoc committees for specific purposes. It can also consider proposals for new legislation or changes in existing legislation and debate them before passing them into law.
The President and Vice President: Head of the Parliament
In India, the President is the head of the Parliament and body which exercises executive power. He is elected by an electoral college and hence holds a great deal of power. The Indian President has certain duties and functions, that are divided between himself and the Vice President.
The President is responsible for appointing delegates to the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of Parliament. Besides this, he has powers to appoint the Prime Minister, dissolve the houses on advice from Prime Minister in certain cases, address Parliament sessions in joint sittings, refer bills back to houses for reconsideration; recommend a vote of no confidence and amend the Constitution ofIndia.
The Vice President is appointed by only one house i.e., Rajya Sabha, and acts as its president when it not in session. He may also assume any other role on behalf her Majesties’ Government as advised by the Prime Minister or Council of Ministers, including supervising all elections in India as well as delivering speeches at assemblies outside India. Furthermore, he is also responsible for certifying bills passed by both houses before submitting them to the President for signature or veto.
The Speaker and Deputy Speaker: Maintaining Order in the Lok Sabha
When it comes to maintaining order in the Lok Sabha, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker play an important role. In the Lok Sabha, the Speaker is responsible for conducting its proceedings and preserving order, as well as giving rulings on points of order. The Deputy Speaker acts in place of the Speaker in his/her absence, and also presides over sittings devoted to the transaction of non-legislative business.
Duties
The key duties of the Speaker include:
Admitting questions, motions and amendments
Presiding over debates
Enforcing propriety of language
Placing issues before the House
Counting votes when required
Announcing decisions on matters of fact or law
Deciding whether a rule has been broken or not
Deciding whether a Bill is invalid or not
Summoning or dissolving Parliament at times prescribed by law
The key duties of the Deputy Speaker include:
Replacing the Speaker when needed
Representing Lok Sabha abroad
Pursuing an active interest in promoting research on parliamentary institutions
Functions and Powers of the Parliament
You may not know this, but the Parliament of India has certain powers and functions that are essential for the functioning of the country. Here's a breakdown:
Legislative Powers
The Parliament is responsible for making laws relating to defense, foreign policy and other important matters concerning the country. It has exclusive powers to make laws concerning List I of the Seventh Schedule in the Constitution, which includes areas like banking and communication.
Financial Powers
The Parliament approves the annual budget of India and exercises control over public expenditure. It also has authority to raise taxes and can even borrow money on behalf of the country, to be used for development.
Judicial Powers
The Parliament also has certain judicial powers such as impeachment of Supreme Court judges and removal or suspension of members who are found guilty of misbehaving in the House.
Thus, from making laws to approving budgets and exercising judicial powers, it is clear that the Parliament plays an essential role in keeping India’s democratic system functioning.
The Legislative Process
You may already know that in India the process of turning a bill into a law is complex. But did you know what it entails? Here's an overview.
The Indian Legislative process begins with the drafting of a bill, which is introduced in either House of Parliament (the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha). Once introduced, the bill is debated and can be amended before being passed in both Houses with a simple majority.
Amendments
In some cases, amendments may be made during the legislative process. This can change parts of the text or add provisions to become part of the final version. If there are any disagreements between both Houses on any amendments made, then a joint session is held for discussion and voting before the bill is passed by both Houses of Parliament.
Presidential Assent
After passing in both Houses, the bill must receive Presidential assent before it becomes a law in India. Depending on how long it takes to get presidential assent, this step can take upwards of 45 days or more. Once signed off by the President, this bill then passes and becomes law in India.
Question Hour: Holding the Government Accountable
India's Parliament provides a way to hold the government accountable in the form of Question Hour. During Question Hour, Members of Parliament (MPs) can ask questions related to the functioning of various ministries and receive answers from the relevant ministers.
This system not only helps hold the government accountable but also keeps citizens informed about public issues and allows them to challenge the decision-making process of the administration. It also encourages transparency, especially since information on questions asked, answers provided by ministers, and follow-up action are all made accessible to the public.
Question Hours provide an opportunity for MPs from different parties to raise important issues—not just those related to their own political party—which allows for better decision-making.
The ability of MPs to ask relevant questions and hold the government to account helps ensure that citizens' needs are being met and that policies are in line with public opinion. This makes Question Hour an important part of India's parliamentary system, as it provides citizens with an opportunity to be heard by their representatives in Parliament.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Indian Parliament is an integral part of the Indian political system. Its functions and roles are to ensure the functioning of a representative democracy, to make laws and pass budgets, to serve as a platform for debate and discussion, and to reflect the public opinion of Indian citizens. It is, therefore, a vital institution for the democratic development and progress of India. At the same time, it faces criticism for its ineffectiveness and lack of representation of minority groups and women. Nevertheless, the Parliament continues to play an important role in India's political, social, and economic development.